Vape Nicotine Strength: Chart & Nicotine Salt vs. Freebase
🔞 For adults aged 18 and over only. E-cigarettes are not intended for non-smokers.
Guide · Vape Nicotine Strength 2026
Vape Nicotine Strength: Table, Nicotine Salt vs. Freebase & Mixing
Which nicotine strength is right for you? What is the difference between nicotine salt and freebase nicotine? How do you mix e-liquid with a nicotine shot – and which nicotine is suitable for which device? You'll find everything at a glance here.
Nicotine Salt vs. Freebase Nicotine – The Difference
Both liquids contain nicotine – the difference lies in the chemical form. This affects how the draw feels in the throat, how quickly the nicotine takes effect, and which device the liquid is suitable for.
Nicotine Salt (Nic Salt)
- Smooth draw – barely any throat hit, even at high strengths
- Fast effect, similar to a cigarette
- Typical strengths: 10–20 mg/ml
- For MTL devices (mouth-to-lung): disposable vapes, pods, small pod systems
- Little vapor, low liquid consumption
- Ideal for those switching from cigarettes
Freebase Nicotine
- Strong throat hit – quickly becomes harsh at high strengths
- Nicotine effect is somewhat slower
- Typical strengths: 3–12 mg/ml
- For DL devices (direct-lung) with sub-ohm atomizers – usually 3–6 mg/ml
- Lots of vapor, higher liquid consumption
- Classic form for shortfill liquids and nicotine shots
| Nicotine Salt | Freebase | |
|---|---|---|
| Throat sensation | smooth, rounded | strong, harsh at high strengths |
| Effect | fast | somewhat slower |
| Common strength | 10–20 mg/ml | 3–12 mg/ml |
| Draw style | MTL (mouth-to-lung) | DL (direct-lung) or MTL with low nicotine |
| Coil resistance | from approx. 0.8 Ohm | DL: usually below 0.5 Ohm |
| Vapor volume | low | high |
| Typical devices | disposable vapes, pods, pod systems | sub-ohm atomizers, larger mods |
Vape Strength Table: Which nicotine strength is right for me?
A rough guide for those switching from cigarettes. Everyone reacts differently to nicotine – when in doubt, it is better to start lower and increase if necessary.
| Previous consumption | MTL with Nic Salt | MTL with Freebase | DL / Sub-Ohm (Freebase) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy smokers (more than 20 cigarettes/day) |
18–20 mg/ml | 12–18 mg/ml | 6 mg/ml |
| Moderate smokers (10–20 cigarettes/day) |
10–20 mg/ml | 8–12 mg/ml | 3–6 mg/ml |
| Occasional smokers (less than 10 cigarettes/day) |
5–10 mg/ml | 3–6 mg/ml | 3 mg/ml |
| Flavor only, no nicotine | 0 mg/ml – e.g., nicotine-free E-Shishas | ||
Rule of thumb: The more vapor a device produces, the lower the nicotine strength should be. Most disposable vapes and pods in Switzerland have 20 mg/ml nicotine salt.
🇨🇭 Regulations in Switzerland (Tobacco Products Act, since October 1, 2024)
- Nicotine-containing liquids may contain a maximum of 20 mg/ml of nicotine.
- Refill bottles with nicotine may contain a maximum of 10 ml.
- Disposable e-cigarettes and disposable cartridges may have a maximum tank volume of 2 ml.
- Sale only to persons aged 18 and over.
Which nicotine for which device?
| Device | Draw style | Recommended nicotine | Available at Snustrend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disposable vape | MTL | Nicotine salt, usually 20 mg/ml (pre-filled) | Disposable vapes |
| Pod system with pre-filled pods | MTL | Nicotine salt 20 mg/ml (pre-filled pods) | Aroma King SMART |
| Big-puff device with refill liquid | MTL | Nicotine salt 20 mg/ml, liquid included | Big Puff Vapes |
| Refillable pod system (from approx. 0.8 Ohm) | MTL | Nicotine salt 10–20 mg/ml or freebase 6–12 mg/ml | ElfLiq & Elfa Turbo · Aroma King Liquid |
| Sub-ohm atomizer (below 0.5 Ohm) | DL | Freebase 3–6 mg/ml – no high-dosage nicotine salt | – |
| E-Shisha / nicotine-free | MTL | 0 mg/ml | E-Shisha 0 mg |
Important: Never use 20 mg/ml nicotine salt in a sub-ohm device with high vapor output – the amount of nicotine absorbed would be significantly too high.
Mixing e-liquid with a nicotine shot
How it works
Shortfill liquids are sold without nicotine and are not filled to the brim. You add one or more nicotine shots (in Switzerland, max. 10 ml with max. 20 mg/ml) into the empty space. Shake well and let the liquid rest for a few hours.
Final strength = Shot strength × Shot amount ÷ Total amount
| Shortfill | + Shots (10 ml, 20 mg/ml) | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 50 ml | 1 shot | 60 ml · 3.3 mg/ml |
| 40 ml | 2 shots | 60 ml · 6.7 mg/ml |
| 30 ml | 3 shots | 60 ml · 10 mg/ml |
| 100 ml | 2 shots | 120 ml · 3.3 mg/ml |
| 80 ml | 4 shots | 120 ml · 6.7 mg/ml |
Use freebase shots for DL devices; nicotine salt shots are suitable for MTL pods.
🧮 Nicotine Calculator
How much nicotine shot do you need for your desired strength?
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Popular at Snustrend
Safety when handling nicotine
- Nicotine is toxic – always keep liquids and shots out of the reach of children and pets.
- Avoid skin contact when mixing and wash off any spilled liquid immediately.
- Take a break if you feel dizzy, nauseous, or have heart palpitations – the strength is too high.
- Never use more than 20 mg/ml and do not vape nicotine salt in sub-ohm devices.
Prefer using snus? You can find the nicotine values per pouch in our snus strength table.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vape Nicotine Strength
What is the difference between nicotine salt and freebase?
Nicotine salt is a chemically bonded form of nicotine that remains smooth in the throat even at high strengths and takes effect quickly. Freebase nicotine is the classic form: it is harsher at high strengths and is primarily suitable for devices with high vapor output and low nicotine strength.
Which nicotine strength should I choose for vaping?
As a guide: Heavy smokers often start with 18–20 mg/ml nicotine salt for MTL devices, moderate smokers with 10–20 mg/ml, and occasional smokers with 5–10 mg/ml. For DL devices with high vapor, 3–6 mg/ml of freebase is usually sufficient.
How much nicotine is allowed in Switzerland?
Since October 1, 2024, nicotine-containing liquids in Switzerland may contain a maximum of 20 mg/ml of nicotine. Refill bottles may contain a maximum of 10 ml, and disposable e-cigarettes may have a maximum tank volume of 2 ml.
How do I mix a shortfill liquid with a nicotine shot?
You add the nicotine shot to the shortfill bottle (which is not full), shake it well, and let the liquid rest briefly. You calculate the final strength as follows: Shot strength × Shot amount ÷ Total amount. Example: 50 ml shortfill + 10 ml shot with 20 mg/ml results in 60 ml with approximately 3.3 mg/ml.
Which nicotine for disposable vapes and pods?
Disposable vapes and pod systems operate with mouth-to-lung (MTL) draws and little vapor. Nicotine salt, usually with 20 mg/ml in Switzerland, is suitable for this.
Can I use nicotine salt in a sub-ohm atomizer?
This is not recommended. Sub-ohm devices produce a lot of vapor, which would lead to absorbing significantly too much nicotine if high-dosage nicotine salt is used. Freebase with 3–6 mg/ml is suitable for sub-ohm vaping.
This product contains nicotine: a substance that is highly addictive.
Sale only to persons aged 18 and over. Information is for guidance purposes only and without guarantee. Swiss legal situation according to the Tobacco Products Act, as of September 2026.